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Radio host wins settlement against Twin Cities police

A New York-based radio talk show host and two of her producers arrested during the 2008 Republican National Convention have won a settlement against Twin Cities police.

Amy Goodman sued St. Paul, Minneapolis and the Secret Service after her arrest on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Her producers were detained while filming street demonstrations — some of which had turned violent. Goodman was arrested when she came to the aid of her colleagues.

Goodman announced the settlement on her show this morning. Her colleagues Nicole Salazar and Sharif Kouddous were arrested amid the protests at the convention, Sept. 1, 2008. Goodman approached police to ask for their release and was herself detained. Much of the incident was recorded on video.

The suit was filed in federal court in May 2010 by Baher Asmy, attorney and legal director for the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, which represented Goodman.

"We reached a settlement," Asmy said. "All three plaintiffs that are journalists with Democracy Now reached a final settlement with the city of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the United States Secret Service, that will resolve the claims that they had against them from unlawful and quite violent arrests."

The settlement includes $100,000 in compensation and a promise of police training.

Other defendants include the Minneapolis Police and the U.S. Secret Service.

St. Paul City Attorney Sara Grewing said the settlement included $90,000 on behalf of the cities who had sent police to handle security during the RNC. That part of the settlement was paid by an insurance policy taken out by the Twin Cities convention host committee before the convention began.